Stanford and Deliberate -- was at CMU 2 years ago

CMU and Stanford are two top insitutions in the realm of "deliberate" areas of public life. There is a promising, academic, policy, democracracy and technology confluence that has been budding for years. Some in Pittsburgh have been at the cutting edge of this mission and movement. Some huge grants and outcomes have been obtained.

Marilyn Davis, Ph.D., is a long-time net friend of mine. She is the principle developer of eVote and hosts efforts at "deliberate.com" -- a site that I've helped for years by providing some high-speed web services.

Two years ago, CMU hosted a conference. I attended. Now it is going to happen again, but on the west coast. Marilyn is going to present. She wrote today:

Hi eVote Fiddlers,

I will be giving a demo of eVote at a conference at Stanford. I'll be the last of this: 1:10-2:30 Demonstrations: Groupware (380-380C)

For the demo, I'll put in a poll on this fiddle list. If anyone is online, and happens to see the poll come in, it would be totally cool if you went ahead and voted on it.

This looks like a great conference. The paper titles make me think there's lots of hope for online deliberation yet.

Check it out:

http://www.online-deliberation.net/conf2005

Marilyn

Our lightly used blog is at http://eVote.blogspot.com.

In Pittsburgh, a month ago, an out of town expert was a guest speaker for a public lecture, and I attended and asked a question. She got the discussions started in earnest outside of the academic and techie realm where I dabble with the lawyers and attorneys.

These concepts are going to reshape politics and our decision making process. I am sure it is the wave of the future for Pittsburgh -- as its happening with great results elsewhere now.

Tonight is the only TV debate, 7 pm, all candidates!

WBGN, a Green Tree station, #3 on my city cable box, is to broadcast the debate of a few weeks ago held in Mt. Washington. All three candidates were present and got an opening statement, closing statement and replied to some questions.

In my opening -- I jumped upon some overstatements mentioned by Fontana in his opening. Fontana read a portion of a letter from Tom Shumaker, (R), County Council member. Shumaker has since let it know that he'll be resigning from County Council and moving to Virginia. Tom also has been quoted in the papers saying he won't comment on Fontana's claims of being so effective in "bi-partisan" behaviors.

Shumaker's letter to Fontana was nice -- but -- it was dated Feb. 29, 2005. Shumaker sent it because Fontana was then not eligible to be on the county council as he was a candidate for another public office. Fontana needed to resign by then. He didn't even resign after being nominated. Fontana's resignation came weeks late. Fontana's actions of ignorance for the expressed statements within the County Charter was painfully obvious.

In my closing statement, I pointed out the main distinction between the other two any myself. I expect to serve the American people in a lawful way as a state senator should. I'm not only about bringing home the pork.

I'm the one that thinks that the system is broken. That the public treasury is broke. We've tried their style and it has diven us deeply into a crisis.

Hope you tune into the debate.

Viet Vet says on KDKA TV / PG Sunday Edition: There is more capitalism in Siagon than there is in Pittsburgh.

Ho chi Minh City is what its called now, officially.

T.J. McGarvey gave the quote on the air, "There is more capitalism in Siagon than there is in Pittsburgh."

He was on the air with Thomas M. Fitzgerald, another Vietnam Vet. Great interview. Great men.

The two were on the air talking about their experiences in the service from 30 years ago, as well as more recent visits back to Vietnam in the 90s. Plus, some insights into the Pittsburgh monument and other related issues were covered.

The concept of saying, "Welcome home to a veteran is always important."

A hint of GOP spunk - PittsburghLIVE.com

A hint of GOP spunk - PittsburghLIVE.com Reminded great social commentator R.G. Ingersoll in an 1876 speech: 'The Republican Party is the first party that was not founded on some compromise with the Devil. It is the first party of pure, square, honest principles: the first one.'

Wiser words never were spoken. Wise Republicans would heed them.

Wise. Humm.

We'll see what the Trib does with the PA Senate race in the next week. Ignorant or aware? Closed or open minded? Falling to principle or to party pandering?

My main point, nevermind.

Candidates step up TV ads -- Rauterkus does TV in other ways

Candidates step up TV ads - PittsburghLIVE.com: "Libertarian Mark Rauterkus, of the South Side, who is a candidate in the Senate race, hasn't made a TV buy.

Tonight, I'll be on TV for one hour. The TV debate is to air on WBGN at 7 pm. The station is #3 in the city on my cable package.

The debate was filmed at a Senior Center in Mt. Washington and is the only such event where all three candidate were involved.

The clear winning, according to many sources, was not Diven nor Fontana -- but me. I won.

After the debate, a few were wondering if the Dem had a pulse. After the debate, Diven nearly ran out of the room.

Tune in, judge for yourself.

In other matters, I'm expected to be running 3-minute TV announcements on Tuesday and Wednesday -- and they replay other days as well. This is the public comment period at City Council.

I was part of a lead story on TV 11 about four weeks ago on the 11 pm news as we were engaged with our school district's (PPS) project to get interactions and feedback from the community.

I was filmed as part of the AARP event -- being kicked out and giving a statement -- on Friday with WTAE TV 4. I made a powerful protest about the poor decisions of the heavyweights and about the instutional patronage. A nice ovation was delivered in support of myself and after the event 80% of the people in attendance came up to me to express their humble outrage that I wasn't included. All took my CD and many gave me their phone numbers and are now passing out my literature.

In the past, I worked with PCTV to be part of a show, The Art of News.

I've been on the OnQ show, with debates and features a year ago in efforts to "open swim pools and rec centers" -- plus in a candidate debate.

But the biggest effort, with long term potential has to do with WQEX. I was in the battle to prevent the sell off of QEX 16, an asset of the public, miss-operated and miss-managed by QED for years. The public TV mission is not being upheld as it could and should in the Pittsburgh region.

As I remind people of the squandered asset of QEX and the poor behavior of QED's board, this isn't to score points with the powerful. Hillman, Roddey and others are (or were) on that board and drove that station into its huge debt. QED and the city share much as they are in ugly situations due to overspending.

The public trust has been fleeting. Over the years, some is growing in a gradual way, but then it falls away again when the management does NOT do a real debate for a special election in their studios. Or, for other races in the political landscape.

Where is the QED debate for State Senate?

Where is the QED voter education for all the candidates now seeking offices in city council?

When have those interviews taken place?

It is hard to point to something that is absent.

In the end, people vote with their feet. People see the "institutional corruption" and back away. People leave Allegheny County, continually. More than 8,000 left the county last year.

in certain places we can't do nothing and expect to thrive.

There should be a media and journalistic backlash against the negative ads from the candidates. The half-truths in the self-promotions should be revealed as well -- by broadcasters at public TV.

Pittsburgh has "do-whop" covered. Other things that are much more important to the community are left bare.

Brochure text, continued:

Fiscally prudent.
No corporate welfare, EVER!
Beholden to one special interest group: residents.
Solutions for recreation and democracy.
Transportation ideas targeting all.
Honest and open accountability.

-- I'd launch a youth technology summit, establish a regional Park District, end TIFs, lower deed-transfer tax, begin assessment buffering and squash horrid big-ticket spending.

-- I understand that voting and volunteerism matters -- not cronies.

-- Let's halt sprawl to boost our urban fabric.

-- Career politicians put the region in a tailspin. Opposition must counter their give-a-ways.

Disaster

Lots of effort was devoted to the disaster day at PNC Park today. Practice is good. I am a coach. I know practice counts and matters. You either use it or loose it. It is hard to knock practice, cooperation, safe behaviors.

Without a doubt, lots of volunteers were involved, and necessary.

I kept my nose clean, milling from scene to scene. Didn't want to get tossed out of the place. Yesterday's fireworks were enough. Hear some rumblings. Saw the bomb backpack getting dropped into the county's bomb squad blender from its tow rope. Lots of hardware and man power was engaged.

The lifeguard in me can easily understand the efforts of the disaster drill. However, I'm generally come from a perspective of wellness.

It is going to take plenty of band-aids to heal the world.

Some devote their lives to cleaning up the mess others get themselves into. (i.e., Emergency Rooms, trama centers, funeral home operators, bankrupcy dealmakers.)

Some devote their lives to the creation of new messes to replace the existing ones.

Others devote ther lives to making no mess at all.

And, among others sure that are left unsaid, comes the last example.

I am devoted to the reaching of one's potential. To soar, to excel, to strive for excellence is what drives me.

I am more in my element at Sunday morning's big community event, the race for the cure in Schenley Park.

Good luck to the runners. Good luck to the researchers for their discovery that improves prevention, diagnostics and treatments. And most of all, best of luck and strength to the women and their extended families of support in dealing with cancer and other issues.

O'Connor widens contribution gap - PittsburghLIVE.com

Trib quote is on the money. They got it right with the reporting. Yes, I agee. The numbers don't reflect the total amount of money coming into the campaign. The numbers are reported -- but they are less than the whole truth. The real big spending is coming from other sources.

O'Connor widens contribution gap - PittsburghLIVE.com: "Mark Rauterkus, a swim coach from the South Side who is running as a Libertarian, has raised $3,300 in cash and $4,000 in in-kind contributions. He has $100 left in the bank.

The numbers don't reflect the total amount of money coming into the Senate campaign, said John Verbanac, chairman of Neri-Verbanac, a political communications firm based in Harrisburg. He estimates Diven and Fontana each have at least $1 million in support, with state campaign committees paying for most of the TV ads and direct mailings.

Fontana, Diven trading punches (again squared) -- This is about Choice

Fontana, Diven trading punches Diven said he'd 'originally hoped the race could be run in a positive manner, but they went negative on me three weeks ago with a mailer and a TV ad. They threw the first punch and I had no choice but to respond.''

These guys are the ones who are all about a LACK OF CHOICE.

Both of my opponents are staunch PRO-LIFERS. They are not freinds to choice.

Both of my old-party opponents don't want the public to see a choice in terms of the full spectrum on the ballot. Both of my opponents have a willingness to debate without me.

These guys are not fit to be a state senator.

I would never go to a debate knowing that my ballot certified opponent was excluded. I can't stand for discrimination, intentional discrimination, institutional discrimination.

I say, "Think again." We need choices. We don't need senators who are slaves to the wrong masters.

Fontana, Diven trading punches - another problem that comes with a new fix in my campaign

Fontana, Diven trading punches: "Final campaign fund-raising and spending reports don't have to be filed until a month after the election."

I went door knocking, made calls, sent letters to a number of area bankers in recent times. I have a solution, talked about among other places, at city council's public comment period.

The press and Business Times have not picked up on the story, yet. They should. It would help them greatly in these matters. And, most of all, the solution gives the citizens a lot of power. So, the watchdogs might not like this solution.

Transparent PAC accounts would fix a ton of problems. It would make the public campaign process open. We'd not make more work for government offices.

The record keeping of expenses, incomes and assets is in a bank account. Open those bank records with a new style of account, the TRANSPARENT PAC ACCOUNT, and allow for bank by phone and bank by internet views of those accounts by everyone.

The general public should be able to call up, on the internet, my bank account, Elect.Rauterkus.com, and see how much money I have on hand, how much I'm depositing, and the checks, and how I'm spending my money. The checks and credit card expenses are all there -- hidden -- and waiting for a report that happens only four times a year.

The candidate expense and asset report would be much more simple.

The banks already do these type of accounts within their TRUSTs. There can be dozens of trustees who can VIEW the trust transactions -- but who can't do anything else, other than watch.

The public should be able to watch these PAC accounts, real time.

As soon as any bank comes forward, I'll move Elect.Rauterkus.com to that account and publish the access codes for others to witness -- with bank by phone and bank by internet viewing.

Fontana, Diven trading punches - Fontana's vowed -- an opposite direction of mine and where it should be

Fontana, Diven trading punches: "Fontana vowed, 'We won't be outspent.'' He said he's getting financial help from state Senate Democrats and other party officials.

Fontana thinks it is important to win a spitting match.

I vow that I will be outspent.

I vow that I won't overspend. And, I won't overspend when I get into public office as well.

The problem with these old-party candidates and the old-party ways is that they feel more important when the spend more. They burn, churn, waste, abuse. They are not prudent. They are not responsible. They are not frugal. They are not serving the best interest of the taxpayers. They try to out-spend each other and think that that is real measure that counts.

Think again.

Fontana should say, "I'm getting my message out to the people." He can't say that.

Meanwhile, I can't blog much longer. I've got to get my message, now in 40,000 fliers, out to the people. I've got to delver boxes to some volunteers.

Want to help, give a call, or send an email.

If you want to pick-up 100 handouts and take them door-to-door in your neighborhood, come on down.

Fontana, Diven trading punches - ROTFL - Jubelirer's freshness = toxic stentch

Fontana, Diven trading punches: "'We think people are disgusted with the Democratic politics of the past and will vote for Mike Diven, who is a breath of fresh air,'' Jubelirer said.

ROTFL = Roll On The Floor Laughing

Anyone who thinks Diven is a breath of fresh air must always be surrounded by toxic stentch.

Here is a statement without any creditability from the same source via Harrisburg. "We like this matchup," Jubelirer said. "Wayne Fontana has been the godfather of the reassessment process. He's part of the old Democratic establishment. Polls show the two within a few percentage points of each other. It's going to be very, very close.''

The race isn't close. It is costly. It isn't close. The move is a classic to try to close ranks. It isn't the truth. The poll results prove otherwise.

Fontana, Diven trading punches and Fontana's far from the truth on own personal history

The PG reported the following:

Fontana, Diven trading punches 'Mike Diven has been sucking on the public payroll udder his whole life,'' said Fontana campaign director Marty Marks, whereas Fontana was a full-time real estate agent until he got involved in politics five years ago.

Tom Barnes, the PG reporter, set a wonderful trap with this question and statement from the Fontana camp.

Fontana didn't become a full-time real estate agent until recently. One of Fontana's bits of literature, early, when they were NOT so negative, put a much more recent date on the obtaining of Fontana's real estate license.

Text mentions within the new brochure include:

Voters of any party affiliation, including INDEPENDENTS, can vote for Mark Rauterkus, Libertarian.

Polls open to all from 7 am to 8 pm on May 17.

Choose Rauterkus (lever 3-SP) to serve a brief, unexpired term of Jack Wagner because the other two (D & R) have been grossly negative in $1-million campaigns.

Holding the special election with the primary was pushed by Rauterkus in 2004. Rauterkus’ voice already helped to save PA taxpayers $200,000.

Good questions from PoliticsPA's renewed message board

Sadly, I'm to spent to dig into these questions right now. Good ones to ponder -- or allow others here to reply.

What do you think the top three issues are in your district?
 
Let’s say the voter turnout is 48,000.  What portion of that vote do you see yourself getting, and why?
 
Do you trust the voters of the 42nd district will make an informed decision when electing their next Senator?
 
When the number one issue in the 42nd district is property taxes, why do you choose to deal with other items like corporate welfare, pool schedules, trash pick-up and so on?
 
Name what you see your number 1 accomplishment is that defines your term/terms as senator.
 
An old woman comes into your State Senate office and tells you that she can no longer afford her property taxes and unless she pays $2500 in back taxes by month’s end, her house will be sold at sheriff’s sale.  What would you do for her, or what would you tell her?
 
I hope to hear from you, and only ask these questions because it will help me make a better informed decision.
 
Thanks.

Harold's call to action -- with good weather this weekend for lit drops

The Western PA Liberty PAC cut the "Mark Rauterkus, Libertarian for
State Senate" campaign a check for $500 yesterday, and Mark already has 10,000 of a final total of 40,000 fliers in hand (he'd already made arrangements with a printer friend of his). He needs help distributing them, needless to say. He said they look good. FYI, he designed them so any leftovers -- and I think there will be plenty -- can have the time-sensitive part cut off, to make a shorter, more general handout for
later use this summer (if and when he runs for mayor of Pittsburgh in the General Election).

The weather this weekend is supposed to be pretty decent, I've been told. So, you can kill three birds with one stone if you'd be willing to distribute some of this literature for Mark -- get some sun and fresh air, exercise, and help the libertarian cause.

To contact Mark about how to get fliers from him, and where you can fruitfully distribute them, call him on his cell phone at: 412-298-3432.

We're coming down the home stretch.

Thanks!

Harold Kyriazi

Campaign Finance Reports due -- news shortly from the others

Today is a deadline for putting in the campaign finance reports.

The Elect.Rauterkus.com committee raised about $3,300 in cash donations. The in-kind ia about the same. The money on hand is around $100. But, I've got a source for another $1,000 or so to land the campaign.

Four years ago, I ran for Mayor in a contested Republican primary. Both me an my opponent raised about $600 each. We got about 2,000 votes each. I got votes for about $.30 each.

Four years ago, in the Dem primary for mayor, Tom Murphy and Bob O'Connor each raised about $1-million and got just more than 30,000 votes. They got votes for about $30 each.

I expect I'll get votes for $.50 each -- and get between 3,000 and 15,000 votes.

Meanwhile, we'll see how much money is being spent by the other camps. But, a bulk of that money is from Harrisburg, not local. To unravel the source of the money, as it comes from the state committees is a bit more trickey. Hope we have good reporters. The other camps might get votes for $100 to $50 each.

Time will tell.

To vote for me, Mark Rauterkus, Libertarian, it cost $0. After the curtin closes in the voting booth, look to the top row, white background, lever 3-SP.

Tossing a lifeline of good news to Diven and Fontana in a few minutes

This memo has been sent days ago to the other two camps. Showdown came. Both of the old party cronies did the wrong thing. These guys can't make the local landscape better. They have no standing to become senators.

Open Memo to the Citizens and Community Groups within the Greater Pittsburgh Community and the 42nd State Senatorial District

Subject: Debate Inclusion and A.A.R.P. Event

Date: Friday, May 6, 2005

From: Candidates on the ballot in the special election for PA Senate (42nd District)

Wayne Fontana

Michael Diven

Mark Rauterkus


Part 1: I, Wayne Fontana, insist upon the inclusion of all the candidates on the debate stage. I'll do everything I can to see that this occurs.

_______________________________________
(FONTANA did NOT agree to this request.)

Part 2: I, Michael Diven, insist upon the inclusion of all the candidates on the debate stage. I'll do everything I can to see that this occurs.

_______________________________________
(Diven did NOT agree to this request.)

Part 3: I, Mark Rauterkus, want to be included and invited to all the debates and candidate events, along with my loyal opponents. I've stood for others in this regard in other races. I feel certain that our shared democracy requires positive action on these matters.

_______________________________________

+ + + +

Thanks for your consideration and all you do for our public life and community, both in the past and in the present.

Both Diven and Fontana are unfit for service as PA Senators

Statement from Mark Rauterkus, May 6, 2005

First of all, I am ashamed to be in a race for public office with Michael Diven and Wayne Fontana. Today they had an opportunity to stand up for diversity, inclusion, democracy and justice -- and these two acted poorly. Neither Diven nor Fontana supported my inclusion in today's debate hosted at Station Square by the AARP.

Needless to say, I’m extremely disappointed that the AARP deemed it necessary to exclude me. In my opinion, the national and state AARP organization should allow the local affiliations the latitude to make their own decisions in regard to local matters. But, this is simply a microcosmic version of how Federal and State Governments’ use bully-tactics when dealing with local government. Protection of the status quo is more important than the voters’ issues. And that’s something near and dear to my heart … and an issue with which I take very strong exception.

I am not a member of AARP. I acknowledge its right to run its organization as it sees fit. I simply disagree that an organization should be able to promote a legitimate view of the candidates without including all of the candidates.

Given the crisis mode and the band-aid mentality throughout the city, region and state, we also need to address the larger issue of one-party and two-party government. Neither one party rule nor two-party government provides the options needed by a diverse electorate.

Organizations, such as AARP, and events such as today's candidate function, provide the opportunity to bring more representation to government. Today's event provided an opportunity to bring representation to the multitudes of disaffected voters throughout this region, not to mention the country. All parties (AARP, Diven and Fontana) failed.

--- The AARP has chosen to pass on this opportunity.
Today's debate is an example of how those in power allow, condone and support an imbalance of power.

--- The disaffected voters of this region demand balance.
Today's debate provided an excellent chance to see two-thirds of the options.

--- This District’s constituency knows that 67% is a failing grade – and this District’s constituency is clamoring for 100%.

Many democracies involve a multitude of parties. Iraq, with more than 120 parties, this past January 2005, makes just one example. But our present system is designed to eliminate all but the two old parties. Today's frail democracy is a conundrum specifically designed to be an endless, impenetrable loop.

You cannot participate without a 5% minimum past representation, yet you cannot get a 5% minimum representation without prior participation. And please note that celebrity candidates don’t qualify in quite the same manner as those of us with serious issues to address.

The AARP was unable to prove to me that any independent poll was held that had me at less than the 5% benchmark. Polls are being taken. Polls are not being reported because they show a large and growing number of voters who are going to vote for neither the D nor the R -- but for Mark Rauterkus, Libertaian.

To close, let me reiterating my disgust to Mike Diven and Wayne Fontana for their lacking. They don't have the capacity to do the right thing. They don't have the capacity to be my senator.

All future debates must take serious candidates seriously.

Both the heavyweight candidates, Diven and Fontana, were asked to wait before taking the debate stage until after an invitation was extended to all on the ballot. The other camps know what was unfolding. The other camps knew in advance what would occur. My advance statements were handed to them directly.

Failures from AARP, Diven and Fontana. My stand for inclusion, diversity and reson got me kicked out of the Station Square Ballroom -- News on WTAE TV

I didn't get arrested.

I did get kicked out of the AARP event after I raised a "point of order" to be included in the debate and statements today at Station Square.

The AARP moderator had only total denial to offer as an excuse. He said he didn't know I was on the ballot -- but -- he lied. He knew. I told him on a number of occasions. He knew, as the Elect.Rauterkus.com campaign manager had told him and the others with the AARP for the past two weeks.

News coverage is expected from WTAE TV 4.

I got a nice ovation at the event as I made the statement. The expected negative reply came from the stage. Then came my exit -- under protest.

Diven and Fontana are failures at making the situation as it should. They agree with me in principle. But, they fail to stand up for their principles. Neither are suited for the state senate.

This would NEVER happen if the tables were turned. I didn't let it happen in the past. I told my opponent when there were candidate events.

You can't have a valid meet the candidates program when you don't meet all the candidates -- despite the candidates being there and wanting to present.

We send our men and women around the world to fight -- give their lives -- for the sake of democracy and freedoms. Those efforts are valid but turn in vain when our democracy at home is worthless.